97 F-250 HD build

[250krawler]

Well I got a few parts laying around now so I figured I'd start a thread.

The truck is a 97 F-250HD with a 7.3l PSD. I'm basically looking to build a truck that can work and play. The weight of a 7.3 I know is not conductive to off road abuse but the hardest thing it will probably ever see is Uwharrie. I'm looking to get decent street manners as well as good off road capability. This Is going to be a slow long build so don't expect a lot of action.

It originally had E40D 4 speed auto. The flex plate broke so I used that as an excuse to swap in a ZF-5 Rebuild that is now grinding in 3rd occasionally and hardly wants to go in Reverse. It came equipped with 3.55's and of course the TTB dana 50. When I bought the ZF I also got a dually Front 60 from a 97 from the same guy. It was equipped with 4.10's so I just picked up and 97 F-350 10.25 with 4.10's from brooks on here. I already pulled the 50 and swapped in the 60 just so it could sit on it and roll around. I have 2.5" wheels spacers on it (looking for something to address that down the road) to clear the 24 Bolt H1 wheels and 37" tires. And that's basically where I'm at.

What the future Holds depends on how much everything cost. I don't plan on lifting it any, leveling it out at the most. For the front I'm not sure, been toying with the Idea of radius arms or some type of 3 link. I figure after I build an RSK and buy socks and new leafs I'll be half way to a radius a radius arm setup. The rear will get a Shackle flip and I'll remove the lift block and perhaps a leaf from the pack.
Lockers, (lunchbox type) bumpers, and sliders are on the to do list as well as a DDmachine 1356 doubler or 1356 to 205 doubler. How well it will hold up Idk.

Well here is how it sits now....

Stay tuned for further updates....

 

[NickMaul]

that trucks looks mighty clean! I will be interested in seeing how this ford ends up!

 

[WARRIORWELDING]

go for it, I remember a guy named Scott (I thinK) that had a 12valve cummins on 38 swampers who would go all over down at uh when we had work days. I thought his fullsize was plain cool.
Some purpose built bumpers would look sharp on that style of rig. Mid to low lift and thought out fender trimming would work well for a easy entry duel purpose rig.
Leave it leaf sprung and keep it simple and stout for the Diesel powerplant, I'd play with the stock pack and put together a custom set. The front and rears are the same width I believe. I'd swap some of the rears into the front like one of the longer overload springs or get the add a leave leaveling kit they are cheap.

 

[VLP]

Good luck with the build, body looks good...think its going to stay that way??

 

[altoids]

Not so sure of the 7.3 weight thing you speak of??? Mines holding up pretty good. Good luck with the build.

 

[carthief007]

when you did the 60 swap did you use the ttb springs? speaking from exp id stay away from a lunchbox in the rear,i destroyed a lock right in my 10.25.

i did away with the ttb springs and put 250 rears up front,moved the axle about 2" forward with alot better flex,mine leafs are a 5 pack,with your psd id do a 6 pack with a helper.if you havent done it yet get ahold of shawn(gubni) and do a disc conversion on the rear.

maybe i can get some ideas for mine

 

[carthief007]

also...where in the heck is your lock out? lol

 

[250krawler]

Not so sure of the 7.3 weight thing you speak of??? Mines holding up pretty good. Good luck with the build.

yeah mines not sitting on top of a 2.5ton

also...where in the heck is your lock out? lol

That's on the to do list. Its got a lot of loose ends.I basically pulled out the TTB and dropped it on the 60 and swapped in my TTB hubs to move it around. So yeah, its still on the 250 leafs, and yes they bring the suck. The frame flexes more than the suspension ATM.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, I almost just feel like building radius arms. I've tossed around the idea of rear leafs. I also Have a set of Superduty leafs and I've got a quote on some Alcan springs. Guess it basically comes down to do cost of coil-overs.

Good luck with the build, body looks good...think its going to stay that way??

I don't know, not to worried about it, Its bound to get a little beat but I've been to UH in a full size a few times and we only tagged the bed once going down steep hill climb. A little body protection is on the list.

 

[92yotaman]

man thats a sweet truck. i wish i had it

 

[carthief007]

i wanna know the story with the ratchet strap lol

 

[01ram4x4]

damn widh i had the cash

 

[250krawler]

Just ordered a new CPS, had a code for intermittent failure and working on a OBA system with to viair 380C pumps and a 5 gallon tank. Needs two batteries if someone has some optima's or odyssey's they want to let go for cheap...


And the ratchet strap I was using to drag bunch of small cut down trees.

 

[baggednissan]

check with interstate batteries in monroe they usually have econos (used) i think the optima run about 50.00 each

 

[250krawler]

Cool, I definitely be giving them a call.

 

[250krawler]

Got it running tonight, forgot to put fuel in the filters before i put them on decided on SD leafs for the front for now and fixing to order up some parts for that as-well as some NPT plugs for my OBA air tank.

PROOF

 

[250krawler]

Well, got an RSK from sky and as I thought it wouldn't work like I hoped. To tall and a weird shackle angle at that.
Stock F-250 leaves...

Shackle angles...

The height isn't to bad with those but 250 springs suck. the negative arch is good for ride height but travel would be limited and there very stiff as well for use with the TTB system. So I swapped in Superduty leaves which pushed the axle way (too much the tire is in the fender) back but gave a much better shackle angle (probably too much). So now I'm going to hack away at the RSK and push it forward an inch and a half and lower it an inch or two depending on final ride height shackle type and angle. Hoping it will help cut down on the height of the bracket as well. Also tossing around the idea of selling it and going another way.

 

[250krawler]

Also hate how low the shackles seem to hang.

 

[250krawler]

Updates kinda....

cleaned up the sterling with 4.10's I had an swapped it in. Ordered some stuff from Barnes and plan on building a rear flip kit as soon as it gets here. Then i'll pull the overload leaf and drop the block, or at the very least take the block out and cut the overload down to nothing. And that's probably all I'll do to the rear, I may relocate my shock brackets But I'll see what kind of travel I get. I plan on taking the bed off and repainting coating everything when I do this so I'll have some better pics then.

Then I think I'll move to the middle and build a big Skid Plate/cross-member Relocate the electric pump and filter setup to in the bed. Also need to finish Wiring the OBA an looking into clocking the T-case up as it hangs down a good 3-4" below the frame rail. Then I think I have talked myself into 3link front with coil overs but that will be on down the road.

 

[250krawler]

Going to clean up those Brake lines too, Just used what I had laying around. I have to borrow a Flare tool and bender though.

 

[Chris_Keziah]

Looks good. Is it possible to run a shackle with the top bolt through the frame.

 

[250krawler]

For the rear? Not with the factory setup, the springs are outboard of the frame. I could just lower the mount but Id rather get rid of the block.

I thought about doing that on the front but as I said I think I'm just going to cut that RSK off and 3 link.

 

[Chris_Keziah]

For the rear? Not with the factory setup, the springs are outboard of the frame. I could just lower the mount but Id rather get rid of the block.

I thought about doing that on the front but as I said I think I'm just going to cut that RSK off and 3 link.

For the front, totally over looked where you said you might go 3 link.

 

[250krawler]

Well I started on it again today since we have some decent weather. Took the bed off last night and i'm in the process of removing the rear fuel tank so I can start mocking up the rear shackle flip.

That's as far as I've gotten, need lunch and a fuel line tool. Decided I'm going to go ahead an box the frame rails and re-coat everything as I go. This includes boxing some of the factory cross-members and other things like the Rear spring hangers. Will also need to build a forward fuel tank skid plate and I'll probably swap out the rear tank skid for a matching one. Think I may do aluminum but not 100%. Also searching for a spot to place My tank selector Valve and my fuel pump filter setup.

Looks to me like the shackle hanger is going to be way forward from stock location after I flip it. Would you weld it on or bolt it, Im leaning towards just going ahead and burning it on.

 

[250krawler]

Well got one done....

Going to come back and box these in. I think they'll hold up, I have like $25 in each side which is way better than $180 a set. And usually the bought ones leave a bad shackle angle.

Does that look like too much shackle angle or no? The bed doesn't weigh that much so i don't see it squatting anymore. i tried to make them as close to the top of the frame as i could and it definetly lifted it a few inches. hard to tell though what I'm going to take out. may just remove the overload and leave the block.

 

[250krawler]

Don't mind those "shackle bolts" Just needed something fast to stick in there as the hols in the shackles haven't been drilled out yet. As for plating I was think something like this....

The Red lines will cover all of the top area and the blue will be a plate on the bottom from the frame to the bushing bracket area.